A unit for feeding an ordered succession of products to an unloading station

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a unit for feeding an ordered succession of products to an unloading station.

[0002] The invention is advantageously used to feed products such as bars of soap, sweets and the like to a wrapping machine, to which the present specification refers but without thereby restricting the scope of the inventive concept. Installations for the production and packaging of products of this kind usually include wrapping machines which must receive the products to be wrapped in ordered succession, that is to say, suitably spaced, and dispensing devices which feed products in a continuous stream. It is therefore necessary to space the products out during their transfer from the dispensing device to the wrapping machine.

[0003] In the art, feeding devices used to arrange products in ordered fashion for feeding to an automatic machine transport the products in succession on a first conveying device which moves in one direction at a first speed and which comprises a first, variable length conveyor portion extending from a loading station to a mobile transfer station. An ordered succession of the products are then transported on a second conveying device which moves at a second speed and which comprises a second conveyor portion of variable length to complement the first conveyor portion. The lengths of the two conveyor portions are varied by an adjusting device according to the position of the products moving on the first conveying device. Thanks to these devices, a continuous scrambled stream of products moving on the first conveyor can be arranged in way that makes the products suitable for subsequent handling.

[0004] If products are fed to the first conveyor not continuously but by feeding means that impart on the first conveyor a movement that is closely linked to the predetermined law of motion that governs the feeding means themselves, devices of the above mentioned type have proved to be unsuitable to arrange the products feeding out towards an unloading station and to correctly adjust their spacing as they are dispensed to the wrapping machine.

[0005] It is also known from document US6035994 a conveyor comprising a conveyor belt forming a main loop and a secondary loop, and two auxiliary rolls close together and forming a return for the upper strand of the conveyor belt. A main drum located at the end where objects begin to be conveyed is shifted as one back and forth parallel to the conveyor belt in such a way that as it shifts backward, the conveyor belt has a section with zero speed. The forward travel is such that an object placed on the zero-speed section catches up with the objects lying on that section of the belt that is traveling at constant speed.

[0006] Document DE3819348 discloses a conveyor with one belt that is operated at one speed and advances pieces of candy distributed in rows at one interval across the direction of travel and with another belt that is operated at a speed that differs from the first speed and with the rows of candy deposited on it at an interval that differs from the first interval. The facing points of deflection of the first and second belt are positioned on a driven carriage and create a migrating transfer point. An auxiliary belt is positioned on the carriage between the two deflection points and has a drive mechanism that can be shifted between two auxiliary speeds in accordance with the direction that the carriage is moving in.

[0007] Finally, document EP0806383 shows a device for supplying an orderly succession of randomly received products to a user machine, whereby a first and second conveyor, traveling at respective speeds, define a path having two portions of variable lengths complementary to each other, and which are connected at a movable transfer station by a pocket type transfer device for transferring the products from the first conveyor into respective pockets equally spaced with a given spacing along the second conveyor; the random distribution of the products on the first conveyor is adapted to the equal spacing of the pockets on the second conveyor by adjusting the speed at which the products arrive at the transfer station, and/or the position of the transfer station.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a unit for feeding the products to an automatic machine even when the products are fed to the first conveyor according to a law of motion imparted by respective feed means.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides a unit for feeding an ordered succession of products to an unloading station, comprising the features of claim 1.

[0010] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment without limiting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

• Figure 1 is a scaled-down, schematic side view, with some parts in cross section and others cut away, of a unit for feeding an ordered succession of products made in accordance with the present invention and illustrated in one stage of its operation;
• Figures 2 and 3 are schematic side views, with some parts in cross section and others cut away, of the unit for feeding an ordered succession of products of Figure 1 illustrated in two successive stages of its operation;
• Figures 4 and 5 are partial plan views, with some parts cut away for clarity, of the unit shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively;
• Figures 6 and 7 are a schematic side view, with some parts cut away for clarity, and a plan view, respectively, of a detail of the unit shown in Figures 1 and 3 in a stage of its operation different from that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5;
• Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, a schematic side view, with some parts cut away for clarity, and a plan view of the detail shown in Figures 6 and 7 in a different stage of its operation.

[0011] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a unit for feeding an ordered succession of products 2 to an unloading station, which is schematically illustrated as a block 3.

[0012] The unit 1 comprises an arranging device 4 designed to receive a succession of products 2 grouped in sets 5 consisting of a predetermined number of products 2. The arranging device 4 comprises a first and a second conveyor belt 6 and 7 positioned in series and substantially horizontal, the first of which, namely the conveyor 6, is designed to receive the products 2 from a feed device 8, while the second conveyor 7, is designed to feed the products 2 in ordered succession to an automatic machine, which is not illustrated, through an unloading station 3.

[0013] The conveyors 6 and 7 consist of belts 9 and 10 looped around a plurality of pulleys labelled 11-14 for the first conveyor 6, and 15-19 for the second conveyor 7, the pulleys being rotatable about respective axes which are parallel to each other and transversal to the feed direction, labelled 20, of the conveyors 6 and 7. The numerals 21 and 22 denote tensioning and transmission pulleys of the first conveyor 6.

[0014] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the pulleys 12, 13, and 14 of the conveyor 6 and 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the conveyor 7 are idle driven pulleys, while the pulleys 11 and 19 are drive pulleys with respective motors, labelled M1 and M2, which drive the conveyors 6 and 7 at a defined speed, respectively.

[0015] The belt 9 of the first conveyor 6 has a succession of pockets 23 to contain the products 2 and formed by a plurality of protrusions 24 uniformly distributed along the belt 9 with a space p1 between each one and the next. Similarly, the belt 10 of the second conveyor 7 has a succession of pockets 25 to contain the products 2 and formed by a plurality of protrusions 26 uniformly distributed along the belt 10 with a space p2 between each one and the next, which in the embodiment illustrated, is substantially the same as the space p1, but which could, if necessary, differ from it. The size of the pockets 23 and 25 depends on the size of the products 2 so that the latter sit snugly inside them and are restricted in movement either completely or within well-defined limits, thus guaranteeing the correct operation of the automatic machine.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the pulleys 12 and 14 of the first conveyor 6 are end transmission pulleys and form on the corresponding belt 9 a forward branch 27 and a return branch 28, the former comprising a conveyor portion 29 extending between the pulleys 11 and 12. Similarly, the pulleys 15 and 18 of the second conveyor 7 are end transmission pulleys and form on the corresponding belt 10 a forward branch 30 and a return branch 31, the former comprising a conveyor portion 32 extending between the pulleys 15 and 18.

[0017] The conveyor portions 29 and 32 form part of a path P of defined length along which the products 2 are fed in the direction 20 from the feed device 8 to the unloading station 3, and the contiguous ends of the conveyor portions 29 and 32 form between them a transfer station 33. The pulleys 12 and 15 form part of a transfer device 34 comprising a carriage which is schematically illustrated as a block 35 supporting the two pulleys 12 and 15.

[0018] As shown in Figures 4 to 9, the carriage 35 also supports two pairs of pulleys 36, 37 and 38, 39 mounted on respective shafts 36a, 37a and 38a, 39a positioned perpendicularly to the feed direction 20 and to the shafts of the pulleys 12 and 15. The pulleys 12 and 15 may be kinematically and respectively connected to the shafts 36a, 37a and 38a, 39a in known manner (as described in the Italian ACMA patent No. 1285693, incorporated herein by reference) or they may be equipped with a separate motor, labelled M3.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 9, the pulley pairs 36, 37 and 38, 39 respectively support belts 40 and 41, each having respective straight portions 42 and 43, which are parallel to each other and located on opposite sides of the feed path P. Consequently, the straight portions 42 and 43 extend between the conveyor portions 29 and 32 close to the pulleys 12 and 15.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pulleys 14 and 18 are mounted on a second carriage 44 which connects to each other the two first ends of two segments 45 and 46 of a drive belt 47 looped around two pulleys 48 and 49 and, at the other two ends of its segments 45 and 46, being connected to the ends of the first carriage 35. The pulley 48 is a drive pulley and is connected to a motor M4, while the pulley 49 is an idle, driven pulley.

[0021] The motor M4 drives the drive belt 47 in such a way as to move the carriage 35 along the feed path P in the direction 20 or in the opposite direction, labelled 50, so as to complementarily vary the length of the conveyor portions 29 and 32 to which there corresponds an equal and opposite movement of the second carriage 44 in a direction parallel to the path P. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the feed device 8 forms part of a bar soap 2 plodder schematically illustrated as a block 51, and consists of a plurality of pickup and transfer elements 52 having on the ends of them respective suction cups 53 that move up and down on pistons 54. Through said pickup and transfer elements 52, the feed device 8 cyclically transfers the products 2 from the machine 51 to the pockets 23 on the first conveyor 6.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated, the feed device 8 consists of two groups of pickup and transfer elements 52 capable of transferring sets 5 consisting of two groups of four products 2 each, with a space p1 between each one and the next, from the machine 51 to the first conveyor 6.

[0023] According to the invention, the first conveyor 6 also moves cyclically according to a law of motion and timing dependent upon the cyclic motion of the feed device 8. In particular, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first conveyor 6 follows a law of intermittent motion that is defined by a step of pausing, illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, during which the device 8 transfers and places in the pockets 23 a set 5 of products 2, and a step of feeding the products 2 towards the second conveyor 7 which moves continuously (Figures 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9).

[0024] The products 2 are transferred from the first conveyor 6 to the second conveyor 7 by the transfer device 34 which also moves cyclically, with reciprocating motion, between a first end position, labelled A where it is close to the feed device 8, and a second end position, labelled B, where it is away from the feed device 8, in such a way as to complementarily vary the lengths of the conveyor portions 29 and 32 of the first and second conveyors 6 and 7, respectively.

[0025] The belts 40 and 41 move cyclically, with intermittent motion, and more specifically, perform a first transfer step in which the branches 42 and 43 move in the direction 20 during the passage of the transfer device 34 from the end position B to the end position A in the direction 50, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, synchronised with the feeding step of the first conveyor 6, and a second transfer step, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, in which the branches 42 and 43 stop and the device 34 moves in the direction 20 carrying with it at least one product 2 placed between the branches 42 and 43 of the belts 40 and 41, which are made of a resilient material of uniform thickness to improve their grip on and adherence to the products 2 themselves. This second step is synchronised with the step of pausing the first conveyor 6.

[0026] It should be stressed that during this step, when the first conveyor 6 is pausing, the driving of the device 34, and thus of the first carriage 35, in the direction 20 by the drive belt 47 enables the return branch 28 of the belt 9 of the first conveyor 6 to be unwound from the end pulley 12 along the path P and enables the forward branch 30 of the belt 10 of the second conveyor 7, moving continuously, to be wound around the pulley 15. More specifically, after the pausing step of the first conveyor 6 to allow reception of the sets 5 and during which the carriage 35 proceeds along the path P in the direction 20 from position A to position B, the first conveyor 6 accelerates in such a way that the first product 2 in the set 5 can reach the last product 2 in the set 5 placed in the preceding cycle. This acceleration step is followed by a step of feeding the first conveyor 6 at a substantially constant speed equal to the speed of the second conveyor 7. More specifically, accelerating the first conveyor 6 makes it possible, in a case such as that described above and illustrated where the groups of four products 2 for each set 5 are separated by a space p1, to eliminate the space p1.

[0027] Lastly, the numeral 55 denotes a control unit connected to the motors M1, M2, M4 and, if fitted, also to the motors M3 of the transfer device 34. The control unit 55 is controlled from a panel 56 which can be used to enter the data describing the structural and functional characteristics and the related laws of cyclic motion of the first and second conveyors 6 and 7 and of the transfer device 34 in relation to the law of cyclic motion of the feed device 8.

Claims

1. A unit for feeding an ordered succession of products (2) to an unloading station (3), comprising an arranging device (4) comprising a first and a second conveyor belt (6, 7) each constituting a first and a second portion (29, 32) of a feed path (P) that has a defined total length and each portion (29, 32) being complementarily variable in length relative to the other, means (8) for feeding the products (2) to the first conveyor (6), a transfer station (33) located between the two portions (29, 32) and comprising a carriage (35) coupled to the two conveyors (6, 7) to complementarily vary the lengths of the two portions (29, 32), transfer means (34) mounted on the carriage (35) and designed to transfer the products (2) from the first to the second portion (29, 32), wherein the feed means (8) are cyclically mobile to transfer the products (2) to the first conveyor (6) in sets (5) consisting of a predetermined number of products (2), the first conveyor (6) and the transfer means (34) being cyclically mobile according to a law of motion and timing dependent upon the cyclic motion of the feed means (8);
characterised in that the transfer means (34) comprises two belts (40, 41) looped around respective pulleys (36, 37; 38, 39) whose axes are transversal to the axes of the transmission pulleys (12, 15) of the conveyors (6, 7), and positioned on opposite sides of the feed path (P), the belts (40, 41) moving with intermittent motion defined by a first transfer step between a second end position (B), where the transfer means is away from the feed device, and a first end position (A), where the transfer means is close to the feed device, and a pause step during which the transfer means (34) pass from the first end position (A) to the second end position (B).

2. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the first conveyor (6) follows a law of intermittent motion that is defined by a pausing step to enable the feed means (8) to position the products (2) on the first conveyor (6), and a step of feeding the products (2) towards the second conveyor (7).

3. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the feed means (8) transfer the products (2) to the first conveyor (6) in sets (5) consisting of a predetermined number of products (2) and separated by a predetermined space (p1).

4. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the transfer means (34) are kinematically connected to the two conveyors (6, 7) through respective end transmission pulleys (12, 15) of the conveyors (6, 7) themselves, the transfer means (34) moving with reciprocating motion between the first end position and the second end position (A, B), in such a way as to complementarily vary the lengths of the portions (29, 32) of the first and second conveyors (6, 7).

5. The unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the feeding step of the first conveyor (6) comprises an acceleration step followed by a step of feeding at a constant speed substantially equal to the speed of the second conveyor (7).

6. The unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the acceleration step enables the first product (2) in the set (5) to reach the transfer means (34) as they move from the first end position (A) to the second end position (B), and the subsequent feeding step is synchronised with the last part of the movement of the transfer means (34) from the first end position (A) to the second end position (B), as well as with the entire movement of the transfer means (34) from the second end position (B) to the first end position (A) during which the transfer means (34) cyclically transfer the products (2) from the first to the second conveyor (6, 7).

7. The unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the feed means (8) position on the first conveyor (6) at least two groups of products (2) separated by a space of predetermined length that is greater than the space between the products (2) within each group, the step of accelerating the first conveyor (6) also making it possible to eliminate the space between the groups.

8. The unit according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a control panel (56) connected to a central control unit (55) and used for setting the structural and functional characteristics and the related laws of cyclic motion of the first and second conveyors (6, 7) and of the transfer means (34) in relation to the law of cyclic motion of the feed means (8).

9. The unit according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 8, characterised in that the first conveyor (6) comprises a plurality of pockets (23) designed to contain the products (2) and formed by a plurality of protrusions (24) uniformly distributed with a space (p1) between each one and the next.

10. The unit according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 8, characterised in that the second conveyor (7) comprises a plurality of pockets (25) designed to contain the products (2) and formed by a plurality of protrusions (26) uniformly distributed with a space (p2) between each one and the next.

11. The unit according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 8, characterised in that the belts (40, 41) of the transfer means (34) are made of a resilient material of substantially uniform thickness.

Ansprüche

1. Einheit zum Zuführen von Produkten (2) in einer geordneten Reihenfolge zu einer Entladestation (3), enthaltend eine Anordnungsvorrichtung (4), welche ein erstes und ein zweites Förderband (6, 7) enthält, jedes einen ersten und einen zweiten Abschnitt (29, 32) einer Zuführbahn (P) bildend, die eine vorgegebene Gesamtlänge hat, wobei jeder Abschnitt (29, 32) zueinander in der Länge ergänzend veränderbar ist, Mittel (8) zum Zuführen der Produkte (2) zu dem ersten Förderband (6), eine Transferstation (33), angeordnet zwischen den beiden Abschnitten (29, 32) und enthaltend einen Schlitten (35), der an die beiden Förderbänder (6, 7) angeschlossen ist, um die Längen der beiden Abschnitte (29, 32) ergänzend zu verändern, an dem Schlitten (35) montierte Transfermittel (34), dazu bestimmt, die Produkte (2) von dem ersten zu dem zweiten Abschnitt (29, 32) zu transferieren, wobei die Zuführmittel (8) zyklisch beweglich sind, um die Produkte (2) an das erste Förderband (6) in Gruppen (5) zu transferieren, die aus einer bestimmten Anzahl von Produkten (2) bestehen, wobei das erste Förderband (6) und die Transfermittel (34) zyklisch nach einem von der zyklischen Bewegung der Zuführmittel (8) abhängigen Bewegungsgesetz und nach einem Takt beweglich sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Transfermittel (34) zwei Bänder (40, 41) enthalten, die um jeweilige Riemenscheiben (36, 37; 38, 39) gewunden sind, deren Achsen quer zu den Achsen der Umlenkrollen (12, 15) der Förderbänder (6, 7) verlaufen, und die auf entgegengesetzten Seiten der Zuführbahn (P) positioniert sind, wobei die Bänder (40, 41) sich schrittweise bewegen, bestimmt durch einen ersten Transferschritt zwischen einer zweiten Endposition (B), in welcher die Transfermittel von der Zuführvorrichtung entfernt sind, und einer ersten Endposition (A), in welcher die Transfermittel dicht an der Zuführvorrichtung angeordnet sind, und einem Pausenschritt, während welchem die Transfermittel (34) aus der ersten Endposition (A) in die zweite Endposition (B) übergehen.

2. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Förderband (6) dem Gesetz einer schrittweisen Bewegung folgt, bestimmt durch einen Pausenschritt, um die Zuführmittel (8) in die Lage zu versetzen, die Produkte (2) auf dem ersten Förderband (6) zu positionieren, und einem Schritt des Zuführens der Produkte (2) zu dem zweiten Förderband (7).

3. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zuführmittel (8) die Produkte (2) an das erste Förderband (6) in Gruppen (5) transferieren, bestehend aus einer vorgegebenen Anzahl von Produkten (2) und getrennt voneinander durch einen bestimmten Abstand (p1).

4. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Transfermittel (34) kinematisch an die beiden Förderbänder (6, 7) angeschlossen sind, und zwar über jeweilige Endumlenkrollen (12, 15) der Förderbänder (6, 7) selbst, wobei sich die Transfermittel (34) wechselweise zwischen der ersten Endposition und der zweiten Endposition (A, B) auf solche Weise bewegen, dass sie ergänzend die Längen der Abschnitte (29, 32) der ersten und zweiten Förderbänder (6, 7) verändern.

5. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zuführphase des ersten Förderbandes (6) eine Beschleunigungsphase enthält, gefolgt von einer Phase des Zuführens bei gleichbleibender Geschwindigkeit, im wesentlichen gleich der Geschwindigkeit des zweiten Förderbandes (7).

6. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beschleunigungsphase das erste Produkt (2) in der Gruppe (5) befähigt, die Transfermittel (34) zu erreichen, sobald diese sich von der ersten Endposition (A) in die zweite Endposition (B) bewegen, und die anschliessende Zuführphase mit dem letzten Teil der Bewegung der Transfermittel (34) von der ersten Endposition (A) in die zweite Endposition (B) synchronisiert ist, so wie auch mit der gesamten Bewegung der Transfermittel (34) von der zweiten Endposition (B) in die erste Endposition (A), während welcher die Transfermittel (34) zyklisch die Produkte (2) von dem ersten zu dem zweiten Förderband (6, 7) transferieren.

7. Einheit nach Patentanspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zuführmittel (8) auf dem ersten Förderband (6) wenigstens zwei Gruppen von Produkten (2) positionieren, getrennt voneinander durch einen Abstand von vorgegebener Länge, der grösser ist als der Abstand zwischen den Produkten (2) innerhalb einer jeden Gruppe, wobei es die Beschleunigungsphase des ersten Förderbandes (6) ebenfalls möglich macht, den Abstand zwischen den Gruppen zu annullieren.

8. Einheit nach einem jeden der vorstehenden Patentansprüche von 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie eine Steuertafel (56) enthält, angeschlossen an eine zentrale Steuereinheit (55) und benutzt zur Eingabe der strukturellen und funktionellen Eigenschaften und der entsprechenden Gesetze der zyklischen Bewegung der ersten und zweiten Förderbänder (6, 7) und der Transfermittel (34) im Verhältnis zu dem Gesetz der zyklischen Bewegung der Zuführmittel (8).

9. Einheit nach einem jeden der vorstehenden Patentansprüche von 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Förderband (6) eine Anzahl von Fächern (23) enthält, dazu bestimmt, die Produkte (2) aufzunehmen, sowie gebildet aus einer Anzahl von Vorsprüngen (24), die gleichmässig mit einem Abstand (p1) voneinander verteilt sind.

10. Einheit nach einem jeden der vorstehenden Patentansprüche von 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Förderband (7) eine Anzahl von Fächern (25) enthält, dazu bestimmt, die Produkte (2) aufzunehmen, sowie gebildet aus einer Anzahl von Vorsprüngen (26), die gleichmässig mit einem Abstand (p2) voneinander verteilt sind.

11. Einheit nach einem jeden der vorstehenden Patentansprüche von 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Bänder (40, 41) der Transfermittel (34) aus federndem Material von im wesentlichen gleichbleibender Stärke hergestellt sind.

Revendications

1. Une unité pour l'alimentation d'une succession ordonnée de produits (2) à une station de déchargement (3), comprenant un dispositif d'arrangement (4) comprenant un premier et un second convoyeurs à bande (6, 7) constituant chacun une première et une seconde portions (29, 32) d'un parcours d'avancement (P) qui a une longueur totale définie et chaque portion (29, 32) étant variable en longueur de façon complémentaire l'une par rapport à l'autre, des moyens (8) pour alimenter les produits (2) au premier convoyeur (6), une station de transfert (33) située entre les deux portions (29, 32) et comprenant un chariot (35) accouplé aux deux convoyeurs (6, 7) pour faire varier de façon complémentaire les longueurs des deux portions (29, 32), des moyens de transfert (34) montés sur le chariot (35) et destinés à transférer les produits (2) de la première à la seconde portion (29, 32), où les moyens d'alimentation (8) sont mobiles cycliquement pour transférer les produits (2) au premier convoyeur (6) par ensembles (5) consistant en un nombre prédéterminé de produits (2), le premier convoyeur (6) et les moyens de transfert (34) étant mobiles cycliquement selon une loi de mouvement et une synchronisation qui dépendent du mouvement cyclique des moyens d'alimentation (8) ; ladite unité étant caractérisée en ce que les moyens de transfert (34) comprennent deux bandes (40, 41) enroulées en boucle autour de poulies (36, 37; 38, 39) respectives, dont les axes sont transversaux aux axes des poulies de renvoi (12, 15) des convoyeurs (6, 7), et positionnées de part et d'autre du parcours d'avancement (P), les bandes (40, 41) se mouvant selon un mouvement intermittent défini par une première phase de transfert entre une seconde position extrême (B), dans laquelle les moyens de transfert sont éloignés du dispositif d'alimentation, et une première position extrême (A), dans laquelle les moyens de transfert sont à proximité du dispositif d'alimentation, et par une phase de pause durant laquelle les moyens de transfert (34) passent de la première position extrême (A) à la seconde position extrême (B).

2. L'unité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le premier convoyeur (6) suit une loi de mouvement intermittent qui est définie par une phase de pause pour permettre aux moyens d'alimentation (8) de déposer les produits (2) sur le premier convoyeur (6), et par une phase d'avancement des produits (2) vers le second convoyeur (7).

3. L'unité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'alimentation (8) transfèrent les produits (2) au premier convoyeur (6) par ensembles (5) consistant en un nombre prédéterminé de produits (2) et séparés d'un espace (p1) prédéterminé.

4. L'unité selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de transfert (34) sont cinématiquement reliés aux deux convoyeurs (6, 7) par l'intermédiaire de poulies de renvoi d'extrémité (12, 15) respectives des convoyeurs (6, 7) eux-mêmes, les moyens de transfert (34) se mouvant selon un mouvement alternatif entre la première position extrême et la seconde position extrême (A, B) de manière à faire varier de façon complémentaire les longueurs des portions (29, 32) des premier et second convoyeurs (6, 7).

5. L'unité selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que la phase d'avancement du premier convoyeur (6) comprend une phase d'accélération suivie d'une phase d'avancement à une vitesse constante essentiellement égale à la vitesse du second convoyeur (7).

6. L'unité selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que la phase d'accélération permet au premier produit (2) de l'ensemble (5) d'atteindre les moyens de transfert (34) durant le passage de ces derniers de la première position extrême (A) à la seconde position extrême (B), et la phase d'avancement suivante est synchronisée avec la dernière partie du mouvement des moyens de transfert (34) de la première position extrême (A) à la seconde position extrême (B) ainsi qu'avec tout le mouvement des moyens de transfert (34) de la seconde position extrême (B) à la première position extrême (A) durant lequel les moyens de transfert (34) transfèrent cycliquement les produits (2) du premier au second convoyeur (6, 7).

7. L'unité selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'alimentation (8) placent sur le premier convoyeur (6) au moins deux groupes de produits (2) séparés d'un espace de longueur prédéterminée qui est plus grand que l'espace séparant les produits (2) à l'intérieur de chaque groupe, la phase d'accélération du premier convoyeur (6) permettant aussi d'éliminer l'espace en question entre les groupes.

8. L'unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un tableau de commande (56) relié à une unité de contrôle centrale (55) et utilisé pour définir les caractéristiques structurelles et fonctionnelles et les lois correspondantes de mouvement cyclique des premier et second convoyeurs (6, 7) et des moyens de transfert (34) par rapport à la loi de mouvement cyclique des moyens d'alimentation (8).

9. L'unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que le premier convoyeur (6) comprend une pluralité de poches (23) destinées à contenir les produits (2) et définies par une pluralité de saillies (24) uniformément réparties avec un espace (p1) entre chacune d'entre elles.

10. L'unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que le second convoyeur (7) comprend une pluralité de poches (25) destinées à contenir les produits (2) et définies par une pluralité de saillies (26) uniformément réparties avec un espace (p2) entre chacune d'entre elles.

11. L'unité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que les bandes (40, 41) des moyens de transfert (34) sont réalisées dans un matériau résilient d'épaisseur essentiellement constante.

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